After fourteen years with France, Deschamps targets new challenge in club or international football

Didier Deschamps has stepped down as France manager after fourteen years in charge (2012-2026) and has no intention of stopping there. At 57, the Basque coach has expressed his desire to continue his career at the highest level, whether leading a club or a national team.

His record speaks for itself: Euro 2016 finalist, 2018 World Cup champion, 2022 World Cup finalist, then Euro 2024 semi-finalist and 2026 World Cup semi-finalist. A trajectory that gives him considerable standing in the coaching market, in Europe and beyond.

Several possibilities are already emerging. Italy reportedly considered his profile for the Nazionale. Ivory Coast also had his name on their radar before turning to Hervé Renard. Other federations could come calling as coaching changes unfold.

On the club side, Deschamps’ name is circulating notably in Turkey. Fenerbahçe, engaged in Ligue des Champions playoffs against Olympique Lyonnais, is going through turbulent times. After the first leg (1-1), in which Mason Greenwood equalized with a personal effort, coach Ismail Kartal — in his third spell on the Istanbul club’s bench — is already being challenged by some supporters. An elimination at Groupama Stadium could hasten a staff change.

The Deschamps-Fenerbahçe hypothesis has a particular dimension: the club has in its ranks two former France players he managed with the national team, Mattéo Guendouzi and N’Golo Kanté, as well as Belgian striker Romelu Lukaku, the club’s latest major signing. However, the media and popular pressure inherent to Turkish football would represent an environment radically different from what he experienced with France.

Nothing is yet set in stone, but Deschamps’ appetite for competition at the highest level suggests an eventful career continuation from the 2026-2027 season onwards.